Chapter 3: Focus, Bella

Have you ever felt a huge pull just to touch someone? To edge yourself closer to them? Maybe even kiss them? That feeling followed Edward and I around. It was stalking us.

We had Biology together after lunch, and after sitting with him and the Cullens, we headed off. My desk had the last seat open, and he joined me there. The teacher came in then, rolling a television and a video player. Movie day. The class's tension lifted, and the lights went off. The feeling came back, only much stronger. I had to fight so hard not to do anything. I peeked at him, and was embarrassed to see him doing the same. I had to stop. I had to focus.

After school, I went back to my house, and borrowed my dad's car (not the police one) to drive the pool. I was the only other one there, other than Jessica. Jessica was my biggest competetor. She had done better than me in the last meet, but I was going to beat her this year. I would move on the olymics this year. The meet was scheduled for two weeks from now. As I did my warm-up, I thought about Edward. BELLA! Stop thinking about him, you need to focus. Do you want to make it? I asked myself. The answer was yes. Jessica caught up to me, and I used my new resolution to push me forward… I had to beat her.

I pulled myself out of the pool and sat on the block, counting the laps. 178. Pretty good for the amount of time I had swam. I practiced my dives and drove home.

My computer buzzed to life, and I started reading my email. One from mom:

Hi Sweetie,

How's your week been? Doing your laps? I've been doing a book club, and I think I'll stick with it. Very busy! Write back!

-Mom

Wow… that was really short for her, she usually rambles. I typed a quick reply and hit send.

Another from Eric, followed by one from Mike. They both invited me to go to La Push with them this weekend. To be polite, I said yes.

I pulled up to the Newton's store, and parked in the lot. I walked inside, where everyone greeted me, and then we were off in Tyler's van. I talked to Angela, a nice girl in my Spanish class. We all sat on a circle of logs, and a group of Quilutes joined us. A boy, who looked slightly younger than me, sat next to me.

"Bella… right?"

"Yeah."

"I'm Jacob. We made mud pies when we were little."

"Yeah. I remember."

"How's the swimming going?"

"Great. You want to take a walk?"

"Sure." He answered.

We walked and talked for a while before my phone buzzed with a new text.

From: Edward

To: Bella

Hey. What are you doing tomorrow?

"One second, Jacob." I held up one finger.

From: Bella

To: Edward

Nothing.

He replied in a few seconds with a longer message: I need to talk to you. Tomorrow 9 o'clock? Lane 4.

I replied: Yup. C u then.

I looked up at Jake. "You were saying?"

"Edward Masen?" He asked.

"Yeah…" I frowned. "Whats wrong with that."

"We have legends about the Cullens, his family." He launched into a whole story that had one meaning. They were vampires. The question was. Was Edward a vampire too?